This week I was feeling pretty motivated to get out and run at parkrun, I had decided to switch back to Orpington this week to give me a change of scenery and also I had visitors arriving mid morning and with slightly fewer runners than Bromley I can get away a bit quicker!
Before the start I spotted a friend whom I hadn't seen since before I was expecting which was great as we had a lovely catch up and she waited to cheer me in at the finish line.
This week my Orpington Parkrun was powered by the papaya, it would seem that this is a pretty good running fuel as today the baby was not doing a bladder dance as we ran allowing me to run 10 / walk 2, and finish in a pretty respectable bump time of 33:15 with only 2 walking breaks. My pace is gradually slowing as my weight and tummy size increase but I am enjoying being out running and ticking off Parkruns on my way to the 50 t-shirt.... still another 15 to go so suspect it will be a post baby win!
It is becoming somewhat of a family tradition that when my siblings come for a visit we come out to Parkrun. This weekend it was the turn of my younger sister, and her first time at Parkrun and only her second 5km event.
It was a cool and drizzly morning, pretty good as running weather goes as you don't get too hot and sweaty!!
We arrived and headed over to the start line, my sister clearly impressed or perhaps confounded by some of the anniversary shirts she saw, 250 parkuns was a shocker!!
We set off at a steady pace, agreeing to a walk/run strategy to get us around the course and selecting Bromley
as the flattest of the local parkruns and also the family favourite!
Happily I am still fitting into my running kit and managed to zip up my waterproof over my increasing bump, this week apparently the size of a pomegranate.... now this raised suspicion for me as I have never seen a pomegranate in excess of 10 inches, in fact probably not even half that size. The app that gives me these updates is American so I am wondering if they have giant pomegranate farms in the US where these enormous fruits frolic together in the fields.
As the time wore on, my sister was seeming a little less keen on running that when we started, and stating definitively "Don't look at me" when I asked looked over to see how she was doing!! but with shorted run/walk intervals we kept moving and before long the end was in sight. The finish line prompted a new energy and we overtook about 4 other runners in the dash for the finish.
It was over and we could now go about our day with a smugness of those who get up early on a Saturday to exercise!
It was the weekend of the worldwide netball reunion, with the Australian contingent in attendance. As is usual on these gatherings I suggested a trip to the local Parkrun on the Saturday morning and Team Meakin took the bait.
Hubby was roped in as chief supporter and childcare for our God-daughter whilst myself, Kate and Paddy partook in a little Parkrun tourism.
The sun was shining and the course was a lovely couple of laps through some shaded woods, Paddy was off ahead of us and myself and Kate opted for the run and chat option to get us round. I was pleased to find that the distraction of chatting stopped me worrying about the baby bladder dance and I was able to keep going until about 17 minutes when we had a short walk break.
As we approached the finish line we saw the husbands and Mollie cheering us on and finished in a time of 35:05 which I am pretty happy with as I am running for two, with my very good friend on such a beautiful morning.
Since being on holiday there has been a lot of walking every day and swimming in the sea but this was the first day I decided to run, and hitting the hotel gym seemed like the best idea especially as Malta is pretty hot and I didn't want to overheat the bump!!
So getting up early, squeezing into some gym kit and taking myself down to the gym I set out to complete a 5km treadmill run.
Powered by an all inclusive diet I was feel quite sluggish and also being indoors on a treadmill I always find slightly tougher then getting out in the fresh air but I stuck with it and completed my 5km in a time comparable to those I have been achieving of late at Parkrun.
Really I am just happy that I have stopped with the morning sickness and am able to do any kind of exercise again. Lets hope it lasts for a little while at least!!
Feeling positive about finally being able to run a few times in the last week, after the morning sickness has eased off significantly I decided another Parkrun was in order.
Opting for Bromley Parkrun I was feeling good and looking forward to seeing a few friendly PWR faces in the line up. At 18 weeks pregnant my baby is the size of a sweet potato and based on my improved time I can only assume this is down to the increased carbs...it would seem that a sweet potato is significantly faster than an avocado!
I was pretty pleased with my bump sweet potato time of 32:55
